Circular knitting machine



May 13, 1958 E. ST. PIERRE El'AL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1953 5 Shts-Sheet 1 y 1958 E. sT. PIERRE ETAL 2,834,192

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 j '8 11-- run 4 a I I i a u-il 2 X/YFE/VTORSI 5:10am: .S'Z'PJERRBL 727 EP WAWZ 3 May 13, 1958 EST. PIERRE ETAL 2,834,192

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1953 I 5 Sheets-Sheec 3 FZICENESZ'HEPREL I .Tosspy WJWZ 15 y 3, 1958 E. s'r. PIERRE ETAL 2,834,192

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 13, 1958 E. 51'. PIERRE ETAL 2,834,192

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIYVEJYTOJPS: EUGENE 521 151225, 4 J'OSEPHWQMHNK,

Unite tates CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Application March 10, 1953, Serial No. 341,536

11 Claims. (Cl. 66-56) This invention relates to a mechanism for changing, automatically, the angular relation between a driving and a driven part of a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, an ops-ration commonly known as indexing.

For the sake of simplicity and clarity, the device will be described in connection with the drive for the cylinder of a circular, independent needle, hosiery knitting machine adapted to make so-callcd solid color diamond socks, but no limitation to this particular machine or use is intended.

One of the accepted methods of knitting a solid color diamond sock is to use a machine having a single knitting station and knit each half or whole diamond of which the pattern consists separately and in sequence. The usual pattern arrangement consists of two or more diamonds, one below the other, extending vertically from adjacent the top of the stocking to adjacent the instep and extending laterally a quarter-way around the stocking on each side of front center line and a similar set of diamonds on the back half. The rest of the pattern consists of one or more half and whole diamonds, one below the other, each extending from front to back of the stocking and completely filling the areas adjacent the series of diamonds first mentioned so that the patterned part of the leg of the stocking consists wholly of diamond patterns. In order to avoid undesirable floats and unattractive junctions between the several diamonds, such patterning is knit in the reciprocatory manner, the adjacent edges of the diamonds and half-diamonds being joined together by true sutures. This is the type of stocking which will be used for purposes of description herein and which is shown in the drawing, of which: 1

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the leg of a solid color diamond stocking corresponding to the above description and opened up along the back so as to make all of the patterns visible in one view;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, of the cylinder of a circular, independent needle, hosiery knitting machine, the beveled gears by which it is driven and the end of the shaft from which power is derived;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cylinder driving mechanism and, in particular, the clutches by which the action of the machine is changed from rotary to reciprocatory motion and whereby the cylinder may be indexed a predetermined number of degrees, say 90 or 180, from what may be called its normal relation to its drive;

Fig. 4 is a view of the clutches in another position;

Fig. 5 is a view of one element of one of the clutches showing four recesses at right angles to one another corresponding to the four angular positions which may be assumed by the cylinder with respect to its drive;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the indexing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a continuation of the mechanism of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are to illustrate the operation positions which may be assumed by the mechanism of Fig. 6 for ,,indexing 90 01' 180;

ICQ

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of part of the indexing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a rear view of the machine showing the indexing mechanism and its relation to the l04-tooth gear and the quadrant; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a cylinder and a few needles.

The main drive of the machine is, in general, the conventional drive used in the Banner type of circular, independent needle, knitting machine. As shown in Fig. 3, it consists of a drive shaft 1 upon which is rotatably mounted a gear 2 having 26 teeth. Attached to or integrai with gear 2 is a sleeve 3 to the end of which is attached a driving pulley (not shown) or other means for the transmission of power. Also forming a part of or attached to gear 2 is one element 4 of a clutch A which is provided with a recess 5. The other element of the clutch consists of a projection 6 adapted to enter recess 5 and attached to a sleeve 7 slidably splined to shaft 1. Sleeve 7 is provided with an annular depression 8 for the reception of a yoke 9 (Fig. 10) forming a part of the usual clutch operating mechanism generally designated by 10 by which the projection 6 may be engaged with and disengaged from depression 5. When the clutch just described is engaged, shaft 1 will be rotated in one direction and, from this, is derived the usual rotary motion of the the cylinder through the usual bevel gears.

Ordinarily, the clutch just described is duplicated on the other side of sleeve 7 so that reciprocatory motion can be imparted to the cylinder through gear 2, 104-tooth gear 11 which meshes therewith, crank 12 (Fig. 11) extending between the web of 104-tooth gear 11 and the quadrant 13, 26-tooth gear 14 which meshes with the quadrant and which is freely turnable upon shaft 1 unless it is locked thereto. The operation of this mechanism will be explained in more detail below.

The connection between shaft 1 and cylinder 15 consists of the usual beveled gears 16 and 17 shown in Fig. 2. Since the patterned area of a solid color diamond stocking has been selected for the purposes of this doseription and since it has also been assumed that this is knit diamond after diamond in the reciprocatory manner at a single knitting station, means is provided to make this possible and this means constitutes the invention herein.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the clutch A heretofore described, by which rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder, is accompanied by another clutch B by which reciprocatory motion may be imparted to the cylinder, also as already described. However, this clutch for reciprocatory motion differs from the ordinary clutch in that it provides for clutching at four angularly different positions of gear 14 with respect to shaft 1.

As best shown in Fig. 3, clutch B consists of a sleeve 18 integral with gear 14, normally freely turnable on shaft 1 and provided with a recess 19 similar to recess 5 of clutch A. Slidably attached to sleeve 7 by means of recessed studs 20 is a clutch element 21 provided with projection 22 adapted to engage recess 19 in sleeve 18. Normally, clutch element 21 is held apart from sleeve 7 by springs 23 to the extent permitted by studs 20. Clutch element 21 is provided with an annular recess 24 which is engaged by a yoke 25 as shown in Figs. 3, 6-10, by means of which it.may be slid towards sleeve 7 to disengage projection 22 from recess 19, in a manner to be described below. As shown in Fig. 4, this makes it possible to disengage both clutches at the same time, thus freeing both 26-tooth gears 2 and 14 and rendering shaft 1 idle throughout its length. If yoke 25 is swung in the other direction-to the left in Fig. 3projection 22 will engage with recess 19 to complete the reciprocatory driving connection with the cylinder in the usual way .through .the .usual mechanism .described hove. When the clutch mechanism is operated so as to engage projection 6 with recess 5 for rotary knitting, element 5Z1 ofclutch LB will be :carried :along, of course, to disengage projection 22 from depression 19 in :theother clutch. Glutch element 18 isprovided with :four recesses, .one of which 19 is shown in Fig. 3 and the others :of which .are numbers ,26, 27 and .28 in z-Fig. '-5. Toindex shaft 1 90 from the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, projection 22=is disengaged fromrrecess 1-9, whereupon .gear -14 willmotate .freely upon shaft 1. W-hen'it has-rotated 90, projection 22 is :engaged with .recessI28, whereupon drivinggearl-i is again coupled to shaft 1 :forireciprocatory motion. However, the timing of this motion and, consequently, the timing of the cylinder with respect to its drive shaft, has beenaltered by 90. in a similar manner, projection 22 may be engaged with recesses 27 or 26 and 19 for additional 90 indexing or, if desired, gear 14 may be permitted to rotate freely for .180, in which case recess 28 is permitted to pass without engagement with projection 22 and engagement is etiected with recess 27.

Although :four recesses are shown in clutch element 18 spaced apart by 90, it will be understood, of course, that this spacing may be varied, both as to angle :and number of recesses, inaccordance with the requirements of theworkibeingdone. The arrangement shown-is adequate for the knitting of-the=stocking alreadyreferredto.

The means forshifting clutch element 21 todisengage projection ,22 from recess l'9 withoutengagingclutch A consistsof a yoke pivotally mounted in one:end 29 of a lever -30 which:is pivoted at 3'1 so:as to be swingable laterally. To the'other-end old-lever 30 is hinged an extension 33 which isswingable vertically. The :other end ta ot-extension '33'isprovided with a shoe 35 which is'engageable with thesides of cams such as 36 and 37 mounted on'thesideota cam disc 38. :Whenshoe 35 is made to engage-with theside of-cam 36, as-shown=in -Fig. 8,:levers '33 and 30 will swing as a unit upon-pivot 31 with the --result:that-yoke 25 will slide-clutch element 21 towards-clutch -A, projection 22 will 'be-disengaged from recess 19 anddrive shaft '1 and, consequently the cylinder will-ceaseto move. When shoe BS-passes off cam -36, which it will be assumed -will:occur after gear 14 -hasturned 90, levers=33 and 30-.willswing'back to their --original :positions and ---projection "22 will .enter recess 28 to again couple the cylinder to its drive shaft 'for reciprocatory motion.

-'If lever =33 is permitteti' to swing; downsothat it be *cornesengageable -with cam 37, projection22 will be dis- *connected 'from recess 1941141 similar rnanner. -It will be -assumed that cam37-is-of1wice-the angular length of cam 36-so that, in=this instance,=the oylinderwill bedisconnected from its 1 operating :mech-anism for 180' or half a revolution of gear 14. :In 'this marmer, the cylin'der may be=indexed 90 or 180 or :any combination 1thereof-.'inacc ordance withthe=.setupof the cams on cam disc 38.

The meansfor causing'shoe Site-engage with cam 36 :or -cam37-on cam disc 38 is best shown in Fi-gsNG and 11. -It. consists of a plate 39- swingable on,a shatt 40 and the npperiendlil of which is engageablewith the underside :of lever- 33. Plate 39 isalso-connected to lever 33*by .=a spring 42. By :swinging plate 39 downwardly, lever 33-wil1' be-swung down sufiicientlyto permit shoe35 to engageieithenwith cam36 or cam 37. Plate 39 is conttrolled =by' thefollowing mechanism. Plate 39 is pro- 2the:.same-shaft=49 as the drum which operates the conventional clutch operating mechanism10. *When rocker 2471s riding upon exam such as '50-(Fig. .7), lever 33 12 (Figs. -3, 6, i=1).

will .he raised vthrough appropriate mechanism into th inoperative position shownsin Fig. 6 and the indexing mechanism described becomes inoperative. The two clutches will remain in whatever position they have been placed by the clutch operating mechanism, This condition will prevail during-.rota yknitting, for example, and while projection 22 and recess "19 of reciprocatory clutch B are in engagement.

When rocker 47 moves oii cam .50 to the surface of the jdruin as. at 51, plate 39 will fall so as :to lower lever 33 sufficiently .to .cause shoe 35 to .engage with cam 37, whereupon levers 33 and 30 will be swung as a unit by cam 37, as *already described, to disengage projection 22 from recess 19 during arotationof gear ,14 of 180", after which rocker 47 will againbe raised by cam 52 similar in height to cam to move lever 33 into its inoperative position again.

"When.a 90 tindexingis .desired,.a cam such 1as 53 is provided which, when .engaged by lever 47, will lower shoe 735 sufficiently to engage with cam 36 only. This, as already stated, will disengage clutch elements 22 and .19.for.a time suificientto permit a 90 rotation of gear '14 before it isagain coupled to drive shaft 1 by the reengagement of :the clutch elements.

.The shaft .40 which carries .the cam disc 38, vand;the quadrant 13 which drives :the 2.6-.tooth. gear .14are .both driven by the l04-tooth gear 11. Shaft 40 is driven by an;86+tooth.gear554 which is afiixedstoorintegral with the l04-tooth gear :11 .and .inmesh with .a .43-tooth gear secured to the shaft 40 (Figs. 10 and :11). This causes'thc shaft 40 and-.with it thecam disc.38.to .make two rotat-ions :iforone ofthe :104-tooth gear :11. The '26-tooth :gear 114 is-driven'hy :the quadrant .13 which is connected:eccentricallytothe 104-tooth gear llby crank This=eccentric connection causes thequadrant to make one-forward andone reverse thrust 'for'each rotationof the l04-t'ooth-gear'and, consequently, rotatest'he gear Home in each direction, i. e, gives it one complete reciprocation.

Becauseihe cam disc 38 rotates twice for each'complete reciprocation of: the gear), there would be, a double clutching of the member 24 which would cause it to clutch twice insteadof once. This second clutching is prevented by so'locating p1ate'39 that it is raised'by the stud 56 Figs Gand 11) on l04-to oth ,gear llto which crank 12is attached to mov,e'lever 33 out of engagement with thescarns on the ,diSc 38 and thereby prevent clutching during the time that the l04-tooth gearlis ,driving the quadrant on theforwardrstroke of the-reciprocation of I gear 1 4.

The;in dexing mechanism described may be ,used to produce the .fabric shown in Eigure l. The .-drawing represents-a stocking having differently coloreddiamonds, C,'D, .E and F,-knit;on a,circular, independent needle machine. As represented, the fabric-has been split up the back to lie flat. ,Eachgdiamondis knit separately and the cylinder :isiindexed.betweendiamonds. sEor exampl h h lf di mond C .a th t p f :th stoc ing -is knit by reciprocating the cylinderbackandiorthmntil itis completelygfinishedathen the.-c.ylin.der is indexed 1180" .to knit the other half-diamond D. 'When this is completed, :the ..cylinder is :indexed and the ,first full diamond E,z-which isshowniin two half .portions, isiknit. :Then the cylinder is indexedanotherdSO" to knit thefull diamond F. Thediamonds ,are joined together by true sutures formed by interknitting :at their borders with common-needles.

The above-description of-the diamonds being knit by indexing the cylinder three times applies to a machine -whereknitting is done-at 'one-stationonly. An -.alternative form is to use two knitting stations on opposite sides of the cylinder. When this arrangement is used, opposing diamonds, say the top half diamonds C and D, are knit simultaneously on the two opposite-sides of-t-he machine and then the cylinder is indexed 90 to knit opposite diamonds E and F.

In addition to the above method of knitting solid diamond fabric, other patterns may be knit with this indexing mechanism.

We claim:

1. A circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a rotatable needle bearing cylinder coupled to a shaft whereby said cylinder is rotated, and means for rotating said shaft which comprises a driving member freely turnable on said shaft and a driven member fixed to said shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith, a clutch plate attached to said driven member and resiliently urged against said driving member, said clutch plate having a projection on its face urged against said driving member, said driving member having a number of recesses disposed about said shaft and adapted to receive said projection whereby said member and said clutch plate may be engaged in different angular relationships, means for turning said driving member, and means for withdrawing said clutch plate so as to free said projections from said recesses While said driving member is turned thereby permitting said angular relationship to be changed.

2. A circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a rotatable needle bearing cylinder coupled to a shaft whereby said cylinder is rotated, and means for rotating said shaft which comprises a driving member freely turnable on said shaft and a driven member attached to said shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith, a clutch plate attached to said driven member and resiliently urged against said driving member, said clutch plate having a projection on its face urged against said driving member, said driving member having a number of recesses disposed about said shaft and adapted to receive said projection whereby said member and said clutch plate may be engaged in different angular relationships, means for turning said driving member, and means for withdrawing said clutch plate so as to free said projections from said recesses while said driving member is turned thereby permitting said angular relationship to be changed, said means for withdrawing and said means for turning being operated by a common mechanism.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and wherein means is provided for rendering said means for withdrawing inoperative during part of the cycle of said common mechanism.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and wherein said common mechanism includes a driving gear, said means for withdrawing comprises a cam and a lever and said means for rendering inoperative comprises a stud eccentrically mounted on said common gear and a member adapted to be moved by said stud to remove said lever from operation by said cam.

5. A circular knitting machine having a needle hearing cylinder and means for driving said cylinder, said driving means including a driving shaft, a clutch element reciprocably splined to said shaft, a driving gear concentric with and loose upon said shaft, and means for selectively coupling said driving gear and said clutch together in any one of a plurality of different angular relationships, said means for coupling the driving gear and clutch including a projection on one, a plurality of recesses in the other and spring means for urging said projection into said recesses, means for overcoming said spring means to remove said projection from said recesses and hold it out of engagement therewith, said spring overcoming means comprising an operating lever, a pivot for said lever and means for swinging said lever upon said pivot, said means for swinging including a hinged portion of said lever having a cam-following part, one or more lever operating cams and means for moving said hinged portion so as to bring its cam-following part to a position adapted to engage said cams.

6. The invention according to claim 5 having at least two lever operating cam-s, wherein movable means is provided for supporting said cams and moving them into and out of engagement with said cam-following part when it is moved to cam engaging position, said movable means comprising a cam supporting member rotatable with said driving gear, and wherein the lever operating cams are of dilferent effective lengths so as to provide for varied extents of change in the angular relationship of the gear and the clutch element while they are disengaged.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and wherein means is provided for selectively bringing said cam-following part of said hinged portion of said clutch operating lever into engagement with one or the other of said cams as desired.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and wherein said cams are concentrically arranged on said rotatable supporting member and said selective means comprises operating linkage and a cam system having high and low cams adapted to move said cam-following portion into engagement with one of said cams, the other of said cams, or out of engagement with either of said cams.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and wherein a second means is provided to remove said cam-following portion out of engagement with said cams.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and wherein said second means comprises a member rotatable with said driving gear and an element effective during a part of the rotating cycle of said member to act upon the operating linkage of said selecting means.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said element is a stud projecting from said rotating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 553,277 Branson Ian. 21, 1896 649,021 Wardwell May 8, 1900 649,162 Dillmore May 8, 1900 700,730 Brinton May 27, 1902 1,315,725 Stewart Sept. 9, 1919 1,716,344 Matthews June 4, 1929 1,790,632 Weidner Jan. 27, 1931 1,853,519 Page Apr. 12, 1932 1,945,227 La Montague et al. Jan. 30, 1934 2,217,022 Lawson et a1. Oct. 8, 1940 2,527,534 Ellis' Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,421 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1929 

